Sheet-feeding mechanism



April 22, 1930.

" A. E. PETERSEN SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM 7, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledJan.

A. E. PETERSEN SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM April 22, 1930.

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 7, 1927 m 7 W 2 1 w ml E E fl 0 Wm ,4 7 z WmWM Em w M I .J H- i 7/ w I e7 00/ m. amwwm Qwmmtoz April 22,1930. A. E.PETERSEN 1,755,662

' SHEET FEEDING MECHANISM 7, 1927 5 Sheeis-Sheet 3 Filed J'an PatentedApr. 22, 1930 UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE ALFRED E. PETERSEN, OFRID'GEFIELD PARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO DEXTER FOLDER COMPANY, OF NEWYORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF YORK SHEET-FEEDING MECHANISM Applicationfiled January 7, 1927. Serial No. 159,684.

This invention relates to sheet feeding mechanism, and more particularlyto the means employed for separating sheets from a pile which isautomatically elevated as the -sheets are separated therefrom andforwarded to the press or other instrumentality to be fed.

It has heretofore been customary to separate sheets of a pile carried onan automatically operated elevator by a rotary platen for producing apreliminary separation of a portion of the sheets at the top of thepile, a combing wheel cooperating with the platen to straighten theuppermost sheet across the flexure of the portion of sheets that havebeen partially separated by the rotary platen, and a reciprocatingsuction device consisting of two relatively movable sections one ofwhich engages the straightened sheet and telescopes within the othersection which is lifted with the telcscoped section to separate thestraightened sheet from the pile. It has been found, however, that whenattempting to separate sheets of heavy stock such as twelve point orgrades thicker than the same, the

sheets of said heavy stock cannot be straightened by the combing wheelbecause of the relatively increased thickness of the sheet and itsconsequent increased resistance to the straightening action of saidwheel, and that there is a tendency for the uppermost sheet and the oneimmediately below it to adhere so that two or more sheets are oftenseparated at the same time by the suction device and simultaneouslyforwarded to the press, thus causing a jamming of the. sheets in thelatter, or when caliperl-ng mechanism 1s employed,

' increasing the work thereof and causing-the press to be frequentlystopped with the resulting loss of time to the printer and decreasedproduction of the press.

The principal ob ects of this invention are to provide sheet separatingmechanism which eliminates the disadvantages referred to"; Which willpositively separate two sheets adhering in themanner-st'ated; whichcauses the lowermost of two adheringsheets lifted by thesuction deviceto drop back onto the pile and at the same time insuresthat'theuppermost sheet will'be retained in engageofsaid feeder (Fig.,1),

This invention will be more clearly stood by reference to theaccompanying drawings which illustrate one mechanical embodiment of theinventive idea, and where- 1n Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the entiresheet separating mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of said mechanism with certain parts brokenaway for purposes of clearer illustration;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation partly in section of the combing wheel,showing means for retaining the same in an inoperative position;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical view of the suction device, showing meansfor separating two adhering sheets; v

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic side elevation of parts of the sheet separatingmechanism, showing two adhering sheets picked up by the suction device;

, Fig. 6 is a viewsimilar to Fig. 5, showing the manner of separatingthe two adhering sheets; and r Fig. 7 is a new similar to Fig. 6,showing the sucker completel ,telescoped within its casing and the top seet supported by said sucker and. completely separated from the ile. iReferring to the drawings wherein like reference numerals designate likeparts throughout the several views, 5 indicates a cross-bar adapted to.be supported on the side frames of-a' pile feeder constructed in anysuitable manner to automatically or. otherwise elevate a pile ofsheets 6carriedon the support? Mounted on the cross-bar 5 for adjustment alongthe same transversely of the pile feeder, is a. sheet separatingmechanism, the component parts of which are generally 1 duplicatedadjacent both rear corners of the sheet P119 so as to provide twoseparate mechanisms which act to partially se arate a portion of theuppermost sheets a jacent both said rear corners and straighten andseparate the sheets successively from the pile before they are forwardedto the press or other instrumentality to be fed. Since these separatingmechanisms are substantially identical in their construction andoperation, and since in some cases a single mechanism is employed, onlyone of the same is herein illustrated and described. This sheetseparating mechanism preferably includes a bracket 8 slidably mounted onthe cross bar 5 and in turn having slidably mounted thereon a separatorframe 9 which may be adjusted vertically with respect to the sheet pile,as by a screw rod 10 and a hand wheel 11 fixed thereon.

J ournaled in suitable bearings of the sepa rator frame 9 is a shaft 12having fixed on one end thereof a bevel gear 13 which meshes with abevel gear 14 fixed on a stub shaft 15 journaled in a bearin bracket 16that is mounted -on-the arm 1% of the separator frameKFig. 2)x The stubshaft'15 is connected, as by a universal joint 18, with a shaft 19 thatis driven from the press or from any other suitable source of power. Aear casing 20 is freely mounted on the sha' t 12 and has an arm 21through which is threaded a thumb screw 22 that engages the frame 9 and"serves to adjust the angular position of the gear casing 20 withrespect to the shaft 12. This driven shaft 12 is provided with gearteeth 23 for driving a series of intermeshing gears 24, 25, 26 and 27housed within the casing 20, the gear27 being fixed onla stub shaft 28to which is rigidly secured a rotary platen 29 that serves to partiallyseparate a portion of the uppermost sheets of the pile -and continuouslysupport said portion and add sheets thereto as the pile is elevated andthe sheets successively separated and forwarded to the press.

4 Arranged to cooperate with the rotary platen 29 is a combing wheel 30which, when it is desired to separate sheets of relatively thin stock,such for example, as the various grades thinner than twelvepoint, servesto straighten the uppermost sheet before it is separated from the pileby the suction device hereinafter referred to. This combing wheel issecured on one end ofa shaft 31 journaled in suitable bearings. on anarm 32 loosely mounted on the shaft 12. The OP osite end of the shaft 31has fixed thereon a bevel gear 32' which meshes with a bevel gear 33that is rigidly secured on the shaft 12. It will thus appear that theshaft, through the medium of gears 32 and 33, serves to drive the shaft31 and the combing wheel 30. The combing wheel ,arm'is automaticallyraised and lowered by a cam arm 34 (Fig. 3) pivotally mounted on a pin35 carried on a lug 36 projecting from" the separator frame 9. This camarm 34 is provided with aroller 37 which engages a cam 38 fixed on theshaft 12. Said cam arm is further provided with a plate 39 upon whichrides a roller 40 j ournaled at 41 on an arm 42 that extends upwardly,from the combin wheel arm 32.

In accor ance with the present invention, means are provided for holdingthe combing wheel in an inoperative position away from the rotary platenand the sheet pile when the separator mechanism is being employed toseparate relatively thick sheets such as twelve point or grades thickerthan the same. Said means may be of any suitable construction, but asherein shown, the same preferably consists of a hook 43 that is securedat 44 to the arm 32. This hook 43, together with the arm 32' and combingwheel 30, is adapted to be manually lifted so that the hook may beengaged in an apertured lug 45 on the separator frame 9. Said lugand thehook 43 thus serve to support the combing wheel in the in operativeposition with respect to the rotary.

platen and the sheet pile as shown in Fig. 3.

Carried on an upwardly extending arm 46 of the separator frame 9 is apin 46- (Fig. 1)

upon which is journaled a lever arm 47 to the free end of which ispivotally connected, as

at 48, the upperend of a rod 49. The lower end of this rod 49 isprovided with an angular slot 50 in which engages a stud 51 secured tothe separator frame 9. When the rod 49 is raised and lowered by means tobe presenttherethrough' tothe foot clamp from a pump or other suitablesource (not shown). Pivotally connected, as at'57, with the arm 47 is 53and serves to deliver air under pressure I a cam rod 58, the lowerbifurcated end of ll which straddles the shaft 12 to center the cam rodwith respect to said shaft. The cam rod 58 carries a pin 59 upon whichis journaled a roller 60 which engages a cam 61 fixedon the shaft 12. vSecured tothe downwardly presented ends 62, 62 ofitherod '58 is a plate63. through a-suitable opening in which extends a rod 64. This rod 64has its upper end pivotedon a pin 65'andis provided with a collar 66between'which andthe plate 63 is disposed a. spring 67 which surroundsthe rod 64-and tends to retain the cam rod 58 in its lowermostf'position. It will thus appear that, as the cam is rotated, the rod 49will be raised and lowered, which movements are likewise imparted to thefoot clamp 52 carried by said rod 49 and that through the describedconnections the foot clamp is caused 30 uppermost sheet from the pile.,scoping sucker 79 is provided with a sheet 40, 81 and the lug 50thicker than the same.

plate 39 through the medium of a roller 68 journaled at 69 on the curvedlever 67and engaging said plate 39. This curved lever has adjustablymounted thereon, as by a pin and slot connection 70, 71 and a splitclamp 72, a suction pipe 73 the upper end of which is connected by aflexible tube 74 with a suitable source of suction (not shown). Thelower end of said pipe 73 terminates in a plate 75 (Fig. 4) having aport 76 therein communicating with the pipe 73 and with anarcuate-shaped casing 77 secured to the plate 75, as by set screws 7'8,78. This casing 77 and the conduits connected therewith, form one partof a suction device that is raised and lowered by the plate 39, and saidsuction device serves to separate the sheets successive- Iy from thepile 6. The other part of this suction device is comprised by anarcuateshaped sucker 79 telescopically fitted in the 5 casing 77 so asto be projected from said casing when lowered therewith into engagementwith the uppermost sheet of the pile and to be retracted within thecasing 77 when the entire suction device is lifted to separate said Thetelegripper 80 and, when suction is applied within the device, thesucker 79 is telescoped within the casing 77 ,against the tension ofcoil spring 81 (Fig. 5) surrounding an arcuateshaped rod 82 which ispivoted at 83 to the 1 sucker 79 and is slidably guided in an aperturedlug 84 on the casing 77. The opposite ends of the spring 81 bear againsta washer 84 respectively, and said spring acts to distend the sucker 79when the suction is broken in the pipe 73 and flexible tube 74. I

In accordance with the present invention,

means are provided for preventing the suction device from permanentlyseparating more than one sheet at atime from the pile Whenthe sheets tobe separated are of stock such, for example, as twelve point or gradesThe means last referred. to is preferably constituted by a curveddeflector finger 85 which is provided at its upper end with one or moreslots 86, 86 and adapted tobe detachably secured to the casing 77 byscrews 87, 87 which pass through the slots 86, 86 and are threaded intosuitable openings in the casing 77 When sheets of relativelygreatthiekness, such as those above referred to, are to be separated bythe mechanism described, the combing wheel is lifted to the ino erativeposition shown in Fig. 3 and retaine d in said position by engaging thehook 43 in the apertured lug 45. The deflector finger 85 is then se-.

cured to the casing by the means described,

so as to be positioned in the path of travel of the sheets lifted andseparated from the pile bythe sucker 79. The free end portion of thedeflector 85 is curved as at 88, so that, if two or more sheets adhereand are simultaneously lifted from the pile by the sucker 79, as shownin Fig. 5, said adhering sheets will be bent by contact of the uppermostsheet with the deflector finger as the sucker 79 is telescoped withinthe casing 77. This bending of the sheets is clearly shown in Fig. 6,wherein the sucker 79 has been partially telescoped within the casing 77and the uppermost sheet is being securely engaged with the gripper bythe suction in the separating device. Bending of the sheets,

however, separates their adjacent edges and,

as the sucker continues to recede within the casing, the curved free endportion 88 of the deflector finger engages the edge of the sheetimmediately below the uppermost one so that the adhering sheets areseparated and aerated therebetween, the uppermost sheet being retainedin engagement with the gripper 80 and the additional sheet or sheetsbeing deflected back'onto the sheet pile and engaged by the foot clamp52 as shown in Fig. 7. The curvature of the sheet deflector is of apredetermined are which insures that the uppermost sheet will not bedetached from the sucker 79 by said deflector, but to further insureagainst such action, the deflector may be adjusted on the casing 77 bythe screw and slot connections 86, 87 so that only the excess sheet orsheets will be detached from the sucker 79 as it telescopes within saidcasing.

What is claimed is 1. The combination with a device adapted to separatea sheet from a pile, of means movable at intervals toward and from thepile and past which said device travels, said means being adapted todeflect back'onto the pile any sheet or sheets that may be separatedtherefrom with said first named sheet. p

2. The combination with a device adapted to separate a sheet from apile, of a curved automatically operated element movable at intervalstow ard and away from the pile and past which said device travels, saidcurved element being adapted to deflect backonto the pile any sheet orsheets that may be separated therefrom with said first named sheet.

3. The combination with a suction device having a" reciprocating casingand a part telescope within said casing and separate sheets from a pile,of a curved deflecting element carried by the arcuate-shaped casing forpreventing said sucker from separating more than one sheet at a timefrom said pile 5. In a sheet separating mechanism the combination with ahollow casing, means for reciprocating the same, and a sucker memberarranged to be projected from and telescoped within said casing toseparate a sheet from a pile, of means supported in spaced relation withthe pile and past which said sucker member travels, said means beingadapted to deflect back onto the pile any sheet or sheets that may beseparated therefrom with said first named sheet.

6. The combination with sheet separating mechanism comprising two partsone of which -is alternatelvprojected from and telescoped within theother to separate a sheet from a I pile, ofimeans supported on the-otherof said parts in spaced relation with the pile and past which thefirst'named part travels, said me ans being adapted't'o deflect backonto the pile any sheet or sheets that may be separated therefrom withsaid first named sheet.

, 7. The combination with a sheet separating I mechanism comprisingacasing and a sucker I member alternately projected from and telescopedwithin the casing to separate a sheet from a pile, of means forpreventing said sucker member from permanently separating more than onesheet at a time from the pile, said means comprising a curved deflectorsupported on the casing in spaced relation with the pile and adapted tobend adhering sheets on the traveling sucker member whereby said sheetsare aerated and all but one of the same dropped back onto said pile.-

8. In a sheet separating mechanism, the combination with a movablesucker member for separating a sheet from a pile, of an element mountedindependently of the sucker member in spaced relation with the pile andadapted when more than one sheet at a time is picked up by the suckermember and moved past said element, to bend the sheets relativelywhereby they are aerated and the excess sheet or sheets dropped backonto the pile.

9. The combination with a device for separating a sheet from a pile, or"a curved deflector mounted independently of said device in spacedrelation with the pile, the curvature of said deflector being such thatwhen adhering sheets are moved past the same by the separating devicesaid sheets are bent relatively by the deflector and all but one of themdropped back onto the pile.

10. The combination with a support for a pile of sheets and a devicemovable thereover for se arating sheets successively from the top 0 thepile, of a deflector disposed over the pile in spaced relation therewithand mounted independently of: the separating device to provide formovement of the same vice so that the uppermost sheet is retained inengagement with said device and the lowermost sheet or sheets areseparated therefrom and drop back onto the pile.

11. The combination with a device for separating a sheet from'a pile anda hollow foot clamp periodically engaging the pile, of a curveddeflector supported in spaced relation with the pile and past which saiddevice travels, the curvature of said deflector being such that when aplurality of sheets are picked up by the separating device and movedpast the deflector, the latter relatively bends the adhering sheetswhereby the sheet or sheets below the one engaged with the separatingdevice may be aerated, dropped back onto the pile, and engaged by saidfoot clamp.

12. In a sheet separating mechanism, a rodevice, said elements beingadapted to Sep arate sheets of various grades thinner than one of acertain thickness, means for holding the combing wheel in an inoperativeposition when said suction device is employed to separate sheets ofvarious grades thicker than those first named, and means for preventingthe suction device from separating more than one at a time of saidlast-named sheets.

13. In a sheet separating mechanism, a rotary platen, a combing wheel,and a suction device, said elements being adapted to separate sheets ofvarious grades thinner than one of a certain thickness, means forholding the combing wheel in an inoperative position when said suctiondevice is employed to separate sheets of various grades thicker thanthose first-named, and means adapted to be detachably secured on saidsuction device for preventing the same from separating more than one ata time of said last-named sheets.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

